Shubhanshu Shukla

Indian Air Force pilot and Gaganyaan astronaut-designate who, as pilot of Axiom Mission 4 in 2025, became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.

Contribution

Shukla was the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private mission flown with NASA, ISRO and SpaceX. It lifted off on a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center at 12:01 IST on 25 June 2025, with commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station on 26 June. He was the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS.

On board he completed seven microgravity experiments designed by Indian institutions, on topics such as muscle regeneration, edible algae, sprouting seeds and tardigrades. He spoke live with the Prime Minister on 28 June.

The capsule splashed down in the Pacific off California at about 15:03 IST on 15 July 2025, ending an 18-day mission. ISRO said the experience feeds directly into planning for Gaganyaan.

Career

Shukla is one of four Indian Air Force test pilots ISRO selected and trained for Gaganyaan. On 27 February 2024, then a Wing Commander, he received his astronaut wings from the Prime Minister at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, along with the other three astronaut-designates. ISRO picked him as prime crew for Ax-4, with Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as backup.

Linked missions

Axiom Mission 4 (25 June – 15 July 2025): pilot.
Gaganyaan: astronaut-designate.
Follows Rakesh Sharma's 1984 flight, 41 years earlier.